Group Review: Caldwell Cigar Company “The King is Dead” Broken Sword

Robert Caldwell, formerly partnered with Christian Eiroa and Wynwood Cigar Company, formed Caldwell Cigar Company in February of 2014. Rolled out of the Dominican republic, the official debut party was out of San Diego in April of 2014.

Caldwell Cigar Company “The King is Dead” Broken Sword

Vitola: Corona

Size: 5” x 40

Wrapper: Negrito

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Dominican

Cigars Smoked for this Review: One per Reviewer

Price Point: $7

Cigar Purchased: Samples from Caldwell Cigar Company

Quick Note: For this review we used Logan’s rating system. You can view it in detail here.

Overall Cigar Federation Average Review: 88 AKA ”5 Pack”

John’s Review – Rating 90 AKA “Box split”

When I nosed the Broken Sword I picked up some medium strength cedar and white pepper playing off of each other before I lit up. I did a test cold draw with a single v-cut and the draw was perfect.

Logan will hate this, but it was creamy to start with a dry cedar chaser. Initially I found the over all profile quite light. The only time I could really detect the white pepper from the nosing was on a retrohale.

By the middle third it evolved nicely to a cedar and white pepper combination but again light and subtle. Some honey breaks through in the first third. At around the 15 minute mark the white pepper is at the back of my throat with each draw.

Once I get into the middle third I’m convinced this is a DR stick. The retrohale in the middle brings hay, strong pepper with some honey.

Plenty of strength builds into the final third. In the last inch or so it becomes quite harsh and I let it go out.

This is a really great smoke that builds in complex to develop into a tasty cigar. It’s definitely a Dominican profile but it evolves well beyond what I’m used to in a typical DR stick. It has some of the best flavors the DR offers. Would definitely do a box split of these.

Logan’s Review – Rating 83 AKA “If I had Them”

There is something different about this cigar. There is a very strange “bite” which is almost like a musty room in the first few puffs of the cigar. There is the slightest bit of pepper, and a few notes of hay. Notes of oak are next, which are more present on the finish, than the retro.

The next flavors are almost purely vegetal, which I can’t say I am surprised considering the amount of Dominican tobacco used. There are notes of wet grass, orange peel, and floral hints. At this point, based on the difficulty of the burn, I am wondering how long ago these samplers were rolled. I am fighting like hell to get this damn thing to burn. There are a few notes of earth, but are very muted, and are almost like wet dirt.

The ending of the cigar, is easily the best part. The pepper ramps up, and notes of new leather and earth come into the flavor profile. There is a very faint sweetness I have to focus on, but it pairs well with the other flavors. I am still having the hardest time keeping the cigar lit.

Overall, I am not super impressed. It could have been a bad sample, but regardless, the cigar didn’t show me much in terms of flavor or complexity. Also, it was overall pretty flat. With the hype on social media about Caldwell, I was expecting more, and unfortunately I didn’t get it

Rob’s Review – Rating 91 AKA “Box Split”

What a great little smoke! It starts off a bit slow with some basic cedar notes. I like to call this the “Character Development” stage, which is fitting given the cigar is named “The King Is Dead.” This development was quick and it had to be given the size of the cigar (5x40 Corona). I almost hate to say that the profile was creamy, but facts are facts.

After an inch or so a white pepper (more heat than flavor) picked up on the retrohale and began to settle on the tongue. As I moved closer to the midpoint the pepper took on more a black peppercorn note and brought and interesting change to the story. There were a few additional sweet notes that showed up along the way. Most notably and enjoyable was a crème brulee-ish flavor that was freakin’ fantastic. It was never more than a side note, but it really caught my attention.

The end of the cigar was really the only downfall. The flavors got a bit muddled and “dirty” toward the end. Given the size of the cigar, I wonder if I might have gone a little “Logan” on it and smoked too fast.

I gave “The King Is Dead” a rating of 91 AKA “Box Split” because I thoroughly enjoyed it and can see myself returning to it on a regular basis.

Wasn't a fan of the Caldwell cigar line. The Dominican tobacco used has too much of a mineral quality to it. The are beautifully constructed but I just don't know why he chose to go mainly Dominican with his cigar blends. Any ways great review, I liked the "Long Live the King" best even tho I gave it a 86/100.

Great stick, Solid review fellas. If any of you are looking for them check out CypressCigarClub.com they have a line sampler so you can try the entire line as well. One of my favorites is the Murcias from the JV line. Has a San Andreas Wrapper and the Long Live the King with the Dominican Corojo

Smoked the 'King Is Dead' & 'Long Live the King' over the past few days. The wrapper on my 'King is Dead' exploded (even before I lit it up), so I can't accurately comment on that cigar, but thought both were pretty good smokes. Nothing amazing that blew me away, but definitely smokeable cigars.